Concrete mixing and delivery system



March 1967 H. M. ZIMMERMAN 3,

CONCRETE MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1Hamfid M. Zimmerman INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 21, 1967 H. M. ZIMMERMAN3,31%,293

CONCRETE MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 21, 1967 H, M. ZIMMERMAN CONCRETE MIXING ANDDELIVERY SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 51 Fi ledJune 26,\ 1964 Harold M.

Zimmerman INVENTOR WQQMM ATTORN EYS Mamh 1967 H. M. ZIMMERMAN CONCRETEMIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 26, 1964 INVENTORATTORNEYS H. M. ZIMMERMAN 3,310,293

CONCRETE MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

March 21, 1967 Filed June 26, 1964 INVENTOR Ill Hdrold Mlimmermon 0Q QONN N8 #9 N: v N Y 0: 00m mg 09 mi l 91 a 31 i. NE wN BY W M ATTORNEYSMarch 21, 1967 H. M. ZIMMERMAN 3,319,293

CONCRETE MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1964 a Sheets-Sheet eCLUTCH VALVE SHUT OFF 0 Gm 52 \g N) w 9. m I

% ami .1 i E? INVENTOR i E BY M4 ATTORNEYS arch 21, 1967 H. M. ZIMMERMAN3,310,293

CONCRETE MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed June 26, ,1964 8 Sheets-Sheet'7 I4 I I 'ATTORNEYS March 1967 H. M. ZIMMERMAN CONCRETE MIXING ANDDELIVERY SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 26, 1964 xiv ATTORNEYS HamidM. Zmmemmn INVENTOR United States Patent 3,310,293 CONCRETE MIXING ANDDELIVERY SYSTEM Harold M. Zimmerman, RD. 1, Ephrata, Pa. 17522 FiledJune 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,133 57 Claims. (Cl. 259-148) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No.114,575, filed Feb. 20, 1961, now abandoned, and entitled, ConcreteMixing and Delivery System.

This invention relates to a concrete mixing and delivery system and moreparticularly it relates to an apparatus and method for selectivelydispensing concrete ingredients from their separate storage chambers andfor combining and mixing such ingredients to form a concrete compositionof preselected character and quantity, whereafter such mixed concretecan be delivered to its location of ultimate usage.

As is well-known, the conventional form of concrete mixing equipment isa ready-mix truck having a rotatable mixing drum mounted upon its bed'With an opening therein for receiving the concrete ingredients. Whensuch ingredients are received within the drum, it is rotated about itsaxis to mix the concrete into a usable condition, and when the truckreaches its ultimate destination, an outlet opening on the drum isuncovered to permit the mixed concrete to be discharged or deliveredgravitationally from the drum.

Such conventional ready-mix trucks have several serious shortcomingswhich prevent them from being used for universal or all-purposeapplications. One shortcoming of ready-mix con-crete trucks is the factthat the batch of concrete must be used in a comparatively short timeafter it is mixed or compounded or else the water content of the batch,which controls the viscosity or consistency of the concrete, must bealtered. Thus, if it is desired to utilize only a small portion of themixed batch at one location, the remainder of the batch must continue tobe mixed while the truck moves to another location and as a result, thebatch becomes overmixed. This not only causes excess heat but alsocauses the concrete to harden and thus requires the addition of extrawater. When too much water has been added to the mixture, its quality orconsistency becomes weakened and the concrete cannot adequately performits function.

As a result of the foregoing difiiculty, one of two situations ariseswhen a ready-mix truck is used to supply concrete for small applicationssuch as patios, driveways, steps and the like. Either the personordering the concrete must pay for the entire batch or else a laterperson who receives concrete from the same batch will get heavilyrewatered concrete which is not altogether satisfactory. In eithersituation, it is obvious that the conventional ready-mix concrete truckis unable to be used satisfactorily in servicing small jobs where only aminimum amount of concrete is required.

Another shortcoming of conventional ready-mix trucks is that a somewhatexperienced operator is required to properly introduce the ingredientsin the right quantities and to properly operate the mixing drum at thecorrect speed to assure that the mixed batch of concrete is formed withthe desired characteristics of consistency, density, quality, and thelike. Moreover, even such an experienced operator is only familiar withcompounding a full batch within the mixing drum and would be totallyunfamiliar with the mixing speeds and quantities required to make asmall batch.

There are, of course, still many more serious shortcomings which existwith conventional ready-mix concrete trucks. As an example, it isdifficult and timeconsuming to clean the large mixing drum at the endPatented Mar. 21,. 196.7

of a days service, yet if such cleaning is not carried out, theremaining concrete will harden within the drum. Also, the speed ofdelivery may have to be inordinately slow or fast in order to allow theconcrete to be mixed at the proper speed. Furthermore, since theingredients have varying densities, specific gra-vities, sizes andshapes, the gravity fallout mixing operation performed by readymix andtransit-mix trucks is not altogether satisfactory, since a positivemixing is lacking. Other shortcomings of conventional ready-mix truckswill be readily apparent to those familiar with their construction andoperation.

In contrast to the. deficient character of conventional ready-mixconcrete trucks, it would be both desirable and beneficial to provide animproved concrete mixing and delivery system which is relativelyself-contained and, as such, can (a) form a part of a vehicular machine,such as a truck or a trailer; (b)- can form a stationary plant; or (0)can be used in combination and conjunction with a conventional ready-mixconcrete truck. Such a system would include a plurality of separatechambers in which the various individual concrete ingredients, such assand, gravel, cement and water, are stored and from which they can beselectively dispensed in desired quantities. In this manner, theindividual ingredients can be suitably trans ported to or housed at thesite of their desired use, and can be dispensed in selectedpredetermined quantities to form a concrete batch having just the rightqualities. Also, such a system would include a small mixing area intowhich the ingredients could be introduced for compounding of theconcrete and means for adjusting the mix rate within that area.

Another prime consideration which would be useful and beneficial inproviding an improved form of mixing and delivery system would be todesign such a system to permit it to be used in other and variedapplications rather than just concrete making and feeding operations.For instance, the apparatus could store, mix and dispense cinders,gravel, salts and the like which are useful in the wintertime forspreading on roadways for melting of snow and ice and for improvingvehicular traction. As another example, such apparatus could be used inproducing fertilizer which is compounded of several differentingredients. Still further, the apparatus could be used to blend anddeliver livestock feed. It can, therefore, be seenthat such a system andapparatus would be suited to a variety of different applications andcould be successfully and ben-eficia'lly employed in almost anyoperation where particulate or fluent material is to be mixed anddispensed.

With the foregoing matter in mind, it is, therefore, a primary object ofthe present invention to provide a mixing and delivery system such asthat described hereinbefore.

Another primary object of the present invention is to overcome thedifficulties and deficiencies associated with prior art forms ofconcrete mixing and delivery equipment and to provide in their stead, animproved system which is capable of storing and mixing, and if desired,transporting, a plurality of ingredients which can be selectively mixedinto a batch of concrete of a predetermined quantity and havingpreselected characteristics.

. Further objects of the present invention include the provision of aconcrete mixing and delivery system which: (a) permits selectivevariation of the ingredients of the mixture; (b) permits the formulationand delivery of relativelysmall batches of concrete which can. be usedto fulfill orders where only small quantities of concrete are needed,thus preventing the need for taking such quantities from a single largebatch; (c) can be applied to vehicular devices of various typesincluding a conventional ready-mix concrete truck; (d) can be used as astationary batch plant, if desired; and (e) permits a batch ofpreselected quality to be obtained, regardless of the speed of theoperating motor of the vehicle on which the system is mounted.

Still further objects of the present invention include the provision ofa system for mixing and delivering concrete wherein: (1) the slump orwater content of the mixed concrete can be easily controlled; (2) aseparate extensible mixing trough is provided for performing the mixingin a desired manner and at a desired rate; (3) only a small portion ofthe system is utilized for mixing and wherein that small portion can bequickly and easily cleaned after completion of a mixing operation; (4)the mixing can be performed on-site; (5) the mixing rate and proportionsare tabularly presented so that even an in experienced operator cancompound the concrete properly; and (6) the ingredients for the concreteare positively delivered from their separate storage chambers to thecommon mixing area; and (7) a positive mechanical mixing action isperformed to assure a uniform dispersal of all the ingredients of theconcrete mix.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for combining and mixing separate ingredients into anagglomerated mass and for delivering such a mass to a desired site, andwherein the ingredients comprehended can be of any suitable particulateor fluent type.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description, which,taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention wherein the system is mounted uponthe frame of alvehicle such as a truck;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the system shown in FIGURE 1;

. FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the system of FIGURE 1, detachedfrom the vehicle;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the system as shown in FIGURE 3 andillustrating the interior of the system storage bin;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the system shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view through the cement bin of the presentsystem, and showing the interior of the bin and certain auxiliaryequipment appended to the bin;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the adjustable saddles usedto mount the system of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIGURE8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan View of a conveyor employed in thesystem of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cement bin with itscover removed;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a level indicatingmeans employed in the system of the present invention;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary schematic view of an indicator means employedin the system of the present invention;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of a swivel coupling means employed in thesystem of the present invention;

FIGURE 15 is a transverse sectional view through the coupling means ofFIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a schematic operating circuit diagram of the system of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view of a mixing trough employed in thesystem of the present invention; I FIGURE 18 is a sectional view takensubstantially along line 18-18 of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the spiralflights employed in the system of the present invention;

FIGURE 20 is a rear end view of a modified system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away, ofthe modified system of FIGURE 20; and

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary View showing, in detail, an automaticactuator means utilized in the modified system of FIGURE 20.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the apparatus hereof is mounted upon a vehiclesuch as a truck generally designated 2 having a frame generallydesignated 4. The apparatus itself includes a sand and gravel storagebin generally designated 6, a cement bin generally designated 8, amixing trough generally designated 10, a plurality of controls generallydesignated-12 and a driving arrangement including a drive shaft 14 whichis linked with a power take-off from the vehicle.

Additionally, the apparatus includes a water supply tank means generallydesignated 18, which is mounted forwardly on the vehicle. Either asingle water tank, or two water tanks, may be provided and the tankmeans is mounted near the truck cab 20 by being secured to the side ofthe storage bin 6, as shown in FIGURE 1, or by being disposed betweenthe cab 20 and the bin 6.

The use of two water tanks affords the advantage that the load isdistributed evenly over the frame 4 of the truck 2, and also it permitsan operator to use one tank with generally fresh water, and another tankwith water having chemicals mixed therein, such as for example, calciumchloride, to prevent freezing of the cement mixture Fresh water isparticularly desirable for use in cleaning the mixing trough, whereasthe water with chemical additives therein is particularly desirable foruse in the mixture under specific conditions.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the storage bin 6 includes two longitudinallyextending sectional compartments 22 and 24. One of these suchcompartments is adapted to house the sand ingredients of the ultimateconcrete mixture, and the other of such compartments is adapted forhousing the gravel ingredient of the ultimate concrete mixture. The bin6 is formed as an integral one-piece bin having a central partition wall26 extending longitudinally thereof and preferably from the top to thebottom of the bin. This partition 26, as explained more fully below, is

7 adjustable according to the preferred embodiment hereof Respectivecompartments22 and 24 in bin 6 are provided above a conveyor generallydesignated 28 which extends through the bin at the base thereof. Theconveyor 28 comprises a conveyor belt 30 supported at opposite endsthereof by being trained over a pair of sprocket wheels 32 and 34. Thesprocket wheel 34 is fixed in position between a pair of channels 36 and38' by being mounted on a driven shaft 40 which has its opposite endsjournalled in bearings (not shown) mounted in the chart nels 36 and 38.

The sprocket wheel 32, as shown in FIGURES 3, 8 and 9, is mounted in apair of bearings 41 and 42 for supporting an idler shaft 44 extendingtherethrough. Adjustable saddles 46, only one of which is shown, areprovided on opposite sides of the apparatus whereby the shaft 44 ismovable parallel to the axis of the roller shaft 40. To effect thedesired movement of the shaft 44, the central positioning thereof andthe proper tensioning of the conveyor belt 30, and adjustable screwarrangement 48, including a pair of fixed nuts and threaded shafts 52,are associated with each of the saddles 46 so as to permit free movementthereof to desired locations along the longitudinal axis of the bin 6.

The endless belt conveyor 28 can take various forms, but it has beenfound satisfactory to form the same from a pair of side chains 51 and53, which extend between the sprockets 54 and 56 secured to the idlershaft 44. A pair games of similar sprockets are secured to the shaft 46upon which the roller member 34 is secured to. Transversely extendingslats 58 extend between the respective side chains 51 and 53 with acloth reinforced rubber belt extending between the chains and the slatsto form the conveyor belt. It should be understood, however, that suchbelt arrangement could be replaced by a cleat rubber belt with therollers 32 and 34 having peripheral ridges therein to receive the cleatextending inwardly from the belt. Other modified forms of conveyor beltsare also within the purview of the present invention.

The cement bin or tank 8 is preferably carried at the rear of theapparatus so that its outlet 60 is disposed above the rear end of theconveyor belt 38. The cement tank 8 is fixed in position by means ofbraces 61 and 63, extending between the cement tank and the sand andgravel bin 6, and also preferably by means of a channel frame generallydesignated 65 disposed at the rear of the apparatus.

The operation of the discharge from the cement bin 8, from the sand andgravel bin 6, and the operation of the mixing trough 10, are controlledfrom a single drive, namely the power shaft 14, which extends rearwardlyalong one side of the apparatus and connects with the gear box generallydesignated 62, through the cooperating clutch member 64. The clutch 64is of conventional design and is operable, upon being moved to itsdisengaged position, to essentially stop operation of the conveyor 30and the metering means associated with the cement tank 8. Furthermore,according to the preferred embodiment, an operating handle (not shown)for the clutch 64 is provided in linked engagement with a shut-off valvemeans 66 which is in turn associated with the water supply 18. Thus,operation of the clutch handle results in completely stopping thedelivery of all ingredients to the mixing trough 1t) and simultaneouslyit stops the water supply through the shut-off valve 66.

The outlet 68 of the cement bin 8 is disposed at the bottom portion of adischarge compartment 68 having arcuate inner walls 70 and 72 whichcooperate with the vanes 74 of a compartmented metering drum generallyindicated by the reference numeral 76. The vanes 74 are preferably of aflexible material, or at least have flexible outer ends thereon, formedfrom a suitable durable plastic material such as Teflon(polytetrafluoroethylene) or nylon. The vanes 74 form a plurality ofcompartments 78 in the drum 76 so that material disposed in the tank 8is dispensed in metered quantities through the bottom discharge opening69 of the chamber 68. The compartmented metering drum 76 is preferablyclosed at its'opposite ends by circular plates 88 and 82 which extendfrom the core or center 86 of the compartmented metering drum 76outwardly to a location spaced slightly inwardly of the respectivearcuate side walls 78 and 72. The ends of the vanes 74 are freelymovable with respect to the end plates 80 and 82 of the drum and whencooperating with the walls 78 and 72 effectively seal the cement tank 8at the lower end thereof. The cover 88 at the top of the cement tank 8may be removed from the bin by merely lifting the same so as to permitfilling of the tank 8, but when still in position, the cover 88effectively seals the top of the tank thereby sealing the same from theexternal atmosphere and any undesirable moisture content therein, whichcan cause the cement to cake or coagulate.

As previously described, the respective plates 61 and 63 are disposed onopposite sides of the bin 8 and connect the same with the bin 6. As seenin FIGURE 3, the bin 8 is mounted with its rear wall 90 in spacedrelation to the forward wall 92 of the tank 6. Thus, a spacing 98 ismaintained between the respective bins and the space prevents anycondensation interiorly of the bin 8 due to temperature differentials.

The operation of the compartmented metering drum 76 results in deliveryof metered quantities of cement from the cement bin 8 onto the conveyorbelt 30 to become deposited essentially on top of the sand and gravelwhich was earlier deposited on the belt from the respective compartments22 and 24 of the bin 6. It should be noted here that the hub or centerportion 86 of the metering drum 76 is fixed on the shaft 186 thatprojects laterally from opposite ends of the discharge compartment 68 asshown in FIGURE 7. The shaft 180 extends through the housing 68 and thento the right thereof as shown in FIGURE 7, and connects to a clutchmechanism generally designated 162. Such a clutch mechanism is ofconventional design and operable through a handle 104 to move betweenits engaged and disengaged positions. Another shaft 106 is mounted atthe base of the bin8 in suitable journalled brackets 168 and 118, theshaft 166 being linked with the shaft 188 through the clutch mechanism102. At the extreme right end of the shaft 106 there is a sprocket 112having a chain 114 trained thereabout. This chain 114 is also trainedabout another sprocket 116 carried on a shaft 126 extending outwardlyfrom the bin 8 and supporting a feeding screw arrangement 122 therein.The shaft is secured in suitable journalled brackets 124 and 126 securedin opposite side walls of the bin 8.

The feeding screw arrangement 122 includes a pair of spiral conveyors128 and 130 which are disposed on the shaft 120 to feed the ingredientwithin bin 8 in opposite directions, i.e., the flight 128 feeding theingredient in the direction of the arrow 132, and the flight 130 feedingthe ingredient in the direction of arrow 134, as shown in FIG- URE 7.Thus, the feeding arrangement is disposed in the base portion of the bin8 so as to deliver cement through the discharge outlet 66 or morespecifically into the compartmented metering drum 76 so that the same ismaintained full at all times to dispense exact metered quantities of thecement from the bin 8 when the same is in operation.

Not only does the feed conveyor arrangement 122 serve to effect thedesired delivery of cement to the metering drum 76, but further itmaintains the cement in a loose and non-agglomerated condition. To aidin this further function, however, a pair of openings 136 and 138 aredisposed in the base of the bin 8 and are covered by finerneshed clothmembers 146 and 142, respectively. These .cloth members are fine enoughto prevent any cement 7 from passing through the openings 136 and 138.However, they do permit air to be introduced therethrough and into thetank 8, the air being supplied from a line 144 which is connected to anair control valve 146 receiving compressed air through a supply line148. The air control valve 146 is a mechanically operated valve which isactivated by a cam 15% carried beneath it on the shaft 186. Thus, eachrevolution of the shaft 186 causes the cam 150 to open the valve 146thereby permitting air from the line 144 to pass through the meshscreens and 142, through the openings 136 and 138 and into the tank 8 toaerate the cement carried therein and prevent any agglomeration thereof.

It has been found desirable to include an additional air supply means inthe form of a hand operated valve 152 which also connects with the line144 and the line 154 by the branch line 148. The hand valve 152 permitsan operator to selectively aerate cement in the tank 8, if and whendesired, as for instance, at the start of a given operation to loosenany agglomeration which may have occurred during transportation of theapparatus between respective locations.

For purposes of driving the metering drum 76 in the cement tank 8, ormore specifically in the discharge compartment 68 thereof, as well asfor driving the feeding conveyor flight on the shaft 126 and the cam 156on the shaft 106, the shaft 186 carries a sprocket 200 thereon. A chain202 is trained about the sprocket 200 and also trained about a sprocket204 carried on the shaft 49 of the roller 34. The shaft 40 is in turnjournalled in the respective bottom channels 36 and 33 which form thebottom of the frame of the apparatus hereof. These channels are readilyadapted for attachment to the chassis or frame of the Vehicle on whichthe system is mounted. The shaft 40 extends to the left as shown inFIGURE 7, into the gear box 62 which is driven by the shaft 14 extendingalong one side of the vehicle, as shown in FIGURE 1. By means of thecooperating sprockets and chain drives, the conveyor is thus drivensynchronously with the operation of the compartmented metering drum '76in the discharge compartment 68 of the tank 8. However, where desired,the compartmented metering drum 76 can be stopped by operation of thehandle 1&4 of the clutch 162 to move the same to its disengagingposition. However, notwithstanding the stopping of the compartmentedmetering drum, the shaft 1676 is maintained in operation, and thus, thefeed conveyor arrangement 122 is continuously driven.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 4 wherein the interior of the bin 6and the respective compartments are shown. It will be noted that the bin6 is provided with tapering opposed side walls 226 and 222 whichconverge toward the base of the bin and lead into the space between thechannels 36 and 38 whereat the conveyor Sil is disposed. The side walls226 and 222 thus lead or direct the material under the influence ofgravity onto the conveyor belt 30.

Extending longitudinally of the bin 6 and dividing the same into therespective compartments 22 and 24, is a partition means 26 including anupper partition portion 224 and a lower partition portion 226. The lowerpartition portion 226 is supported in position by suitable braces (notshown) extending inwardly from the respective side walls 226 and 222.Thus, the lower partition portion is fixed to the frame of the bin 6while the upper end thereof carries thereon'a pipe coupling generallydesignated 228. The coupling 228 comprises a longitudinally extendingpipe member 230 secured to the uppermost end of the lower fixed portion226 of the partition means 26.. This pipe coupling 23% cooperates withan overlying coupling member 232 carried at the base of the upperportion 224 of the partition means 26. This pivotal journal or coupling228 serves to couple the lower fixed portion 226 of the partition means26 with the upper movable portion 224 thereof. This upper portion 224preferably takes the form of a thin and flexible sheet of steel whichleads from the coupling 228 upwardly, with the upper portion 224terminating at its upper edge in a bar 234. Opposite ends of the bar 234are fixedly secured to the respective plates 236 (only one of which 7 isshown), and the plates are in turn selectively movable from the positionshown in FIGURE 4 overlying the compartment 22 to a similar positionoverlying the compartment 24 at substantially the same angularrelationship with the portion 226. By means of the apertures 246 and 242in the plates 236 and cooperating apertures 244 and 246 in the end wallsof the bin 6, the upper portion of the partition means 26 is fixedlysecured to the bin. A fork portion 248 on the lower end of the movableportion 244 of the partition means 26 overlies the pipe 230 on the fixedportion 226 and thereby creates a pivotal mounting for the upper portionof the partition means. In this manner, the upper portion of thepartition 26 is shiftable from one side of the longitudinal and verticalcenter of the bin 6 to the other side thereof whereby the capacity ofthe respective compartments 22 and 24 can be varied so as to render onecompartment larger than the other for particular operations and/or forparticular mixtures having larger or smaller gravel and sand ingredientratios.

With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, it should be apparent that each ofthe compartments 22 and 24, respec tively, is provided with an opening,preferably of rectangular contour at the rear of each of saidcompartments. The opening for the compartment 22 is generally designated25% and the opening for the compartment 24 is generally designated 252.These openings are provided with guides 254 disposed on opposite sidesthereof, for forming slideways in which doors 256 and 258 are slidablydisposed for respectively closing or covering the openings 25% and 252.The doors or gateways 2% and 258 are formed as plates, each carryingthereon a rack gear 269. Disposed in cooperating relation with each ofthe rack gears 260 is a pinion gear 262, as shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6,which gears are mounted on a suitable shaft 264 and 266 journalled inbrackets fixed to adjacent parts of the structural frame. The shafts 264and 266 terminate at their outer ends in the control hand wheels 268 and279, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 1. Rotation of the control handwheel 263 results in rotation of the pinion gear 262 via the shaft 264,and in turn, vertically moving the position of the rack gear 266 on thegate 256. Adjustment of the position of the rack 260 either raises orlowers the gate 256 to the predetermined desired level. Similarly,operation of the control hand wheel 270' permits the operator to adjustthe pinion 262 and in turn the rack gear 26% secured to the gate means258. In this manner, the doors or gates can be adjusted to desiredelevation in overlying relation to the conveyor 31} thereby increasingor decreasing the size of the openings 25d and 252 leading from therespective compartments 22 and 24.

The operation of the control hand wheels 263 and 276 and the dispositionof the respective shafts 264 and 266 are substantially the same so thatthe description of the operation of control hand wheel 268 shown inFIGURE 2 should suffice for a clear understanding of the overall controloperation. It should be noted that the hand wheel 268 or the shaft 264immediately adjacent the hand wheel is provided with a pointer 271 whichpasses in indicating relation across a gauge 2'72 attached to the shaft.The gauge 272 permits an operator to selectively pre-set the givenopening of the compartments 22 and 24. As an example, assume that thegauge 272 is associated with the sand compartment 22 and that the handwheel 26% operates the pinion 262 associated with the rack 260 on thegate 256. In this instance, the operator merely pre-sets the pointer 271on the gauge 272 to the desired location. The operator then is assuredthat the door 256 has been adjusted to its proper elevation so as topermit only a preselected quantity of sand to be delivered from thecompartment 22 during operation of the conveyor '35 This operationessentially pre-sets' the proportion of sand to be included in theultimate concrete mixture. A similar operation is carried out to pre-setthe amount of gravel, crushed stone, or other coarse aggregate to beincluded in the ultimate mixture by merely adjusting the hand wheel 270.Lock bolts, such as the bolt 2%, are associated with each of the handwheels in respective shafts so that the same can be locked in givenposition once the control hand wheels have set the shafts and in turnthe particular gates to the exact desired position. Without this lockingmechanism, there would be a tendency of the gates to move from oneposition to another after having been pre-set. However, with the lockingarrangement shown and described, the doors or gates can be fixed at aparticular required preset elevation.

In addition to the gauges and controls referred to above, a counter 292is preferably linked with the shaft 1% extending to the left as shown inFIGURE 2. This counter 292 visually indicates the number of revolutionsof the shaft ltlii and in turn the number of revolutions of thecompaitmented metering drum 76. Accordingly, knowing the capacity of thecompartmented metering drum, the meter 292 indicates how much cement hasbeen dispensed from the cement tank, for a given opera tion. A similarmetering device 294 can also be provided to indicate the volume of waterwhich has been dispensed into the m xing trough it) during any given 9Operation. By comparing the volume of dispensed water with the volume ofdispensed cement, the operator can readily check the water-cement ratiochart and make sure that the dispensing has been in accordance with thepreselected conditions for a given mixture.

The cement indicator of counter 292 further serves to indicate to anoperator the total quantity of material which has been used, i.e., thenumber of yards of concrete which has been dispensed into the mixingtrough. In turn, the meter 292 will further indicate the number of yardsof concrete dispensed from the mixing trough in the event that theentire material passing through the trough is discharged therefrom.

As shown in FIGURE 16, the drive shaft 14 is shown leading through theclutch 64 into the gear box 62. Operated off the shaft 14 is a hydraulicpump 3% which feeds a hydraulic motor 3&32 used to drive the mixingtrough agitator, as explained more fully below. The hydraulic pump 300is disposed in advance of the clutch 64 and feeds to the hydraulic motor302 through the lines 36M and 306. Also driven from the drive shaft 14is a water pump 308 which is connected at its inlet with the water tank18, and which feeds to a line 319 at the outlet of the water pump fordischarging the water into a water regulator, such as the regulatorvalve indicated at 312. The Water regulator valve in turn feeds througha shut-off valve 66 on to a flow valve 314 and through a flow meter314a. From the metering valve 314 the conduit 316 extends into or abovethe trough for discharge of the water thereto. The regulator valve 312receives water under pressure through the line 310 from the pump 308 andserves to insure that a constant supply of water under a predeterminedpressure is maintained in the line 310. The shuf-off valve 66 ismechanically linked with the operating handle of the clutch 64 asindicated by the dotted lines 65 in FIGURE 16. In this manner, operationof the clutch 65 to its disengaged position in turn operates theshut-off of valve 66 to stop the water supply through the line 316 intothe mixing trough. The flow valve 314, on the other hand, serves tometer the quantity of water which is supplied through the line 316, andin turn to the ultimate mixture in the trough whereby the slump or watercontent can be adjusted.

By means of a handle on the metering valve 314, and a pointer thereonassociated with a gauge (not shown), the metering valve 314 can beopened by the handle to any pre-selected position. Such a position wouldbe determined from a chart supplied by the manufacturer of the apparatusfor showing not only the position of the handle, but also the positionof the respective operating wheels 268 and 276 which control therespective gates 256 and 258 associated with the outlet openings 250 and252 for the sand and gravel compartments 22 and 24. The water would"thus be controlled through selective operation of the handle on themetering valve in accordance with the respective openings of the gateson the sand and gravel compartments so that the water, sand, and gravelare adjusted in predetermined ratio settings with respect to the amountof cement being dispensed from the tank 8. The amount of cement beingdispensed would, by comparison, remain relatively fixed while the supplyof the other components would be adjusted with respect thereto, sincethe adjustments are on the sand, gravel and water discharge mechanisms,rather than on the cement compartmented metering drum 76. However, if ina given operation, cement were not to be supplied to the mixture at anyparticular time, then the handle 164 of the clutch 162 would be operatedto move such clutch to a disengaged position thus selectivelyshutting-off the supply of cement to the mixture.

Notwithstanding the above, it should be noted from FIGURE 16 that thehydraulic pump 308) and the water pump 308 continue to operate even whenthe clutch 64 16 is temporarily disengaged to halt dispensing of cement.Continuous operation of the hydraulic pump 3% is particularly importantbecause this permits mixing in and delivery from the mixing trough 10 tocontinue, even though supply of ingredients thereto has been stopped.

As shown in FIGURES l7 and 18, the mixing trough 10 includes a pair offixed opposed side members 320 and 322 which extend longitudinally ofthe trough for the entire length thereof. These side members 320 and 322form the upper side portions of the trough, with the lower portion ofthe trough being formed by a flexible arcuate member 324. Disposedrespectively along the side members 320 and 322 are a pair oflongitudinally extending metal strips 326 and 328 having dependingflanges 3349 and 332. The depending flanges 330 and 332, respectively,clamp the sides of the flexible member 324 to the outer surfaces of theside members 32%) and 322. Securing means such as bolts can be used tosecure the respective strips to the respective sides and thereby securethe flexible bottom member 324 in position. It should be here understoodthat the flexible bottom member 324 can take the form of a rubber sheetor any other known flexible composition having similar resistivecharacteristics so that abrasion thereon will not cause excessive wearthereof. It is important to understand that member 324 permits themixing trough It) to accommodate coarse aggregate without malfunction ofthe mixing arrangement even on a continuous basis.

The side members 32% and 322 and the bottom flexible member 324 form anelongated trough 1t having steel upperside portions and a flexible lowerbase portion. The upper side portions 320 and 322 are maintained inspaced apart relation by the end plate 334 at the outermost end thereof.The side portions 326 and 322 are further supported along theirlongitudinal length by a grill or rod arrangement 3% which terminatesinwardly of the inner end of the mixing trough, or in other words,terminates forwardly of the end wall 338 of the trough lit. The innerend of the trough is secured to a swivel coupling means generallydesignated 34%) secured to the respective side members 320 and 322 ofthe trough. In this connection, attention is further directed to FIGURES14, 15 and 17 wherein it will be noted that a circular ring member 342is provided with depending flanges 344 and 346 at the side thereof. Thering member 342 is also provided with an outwardly extending peripheralflange portion 348 which bears upon an inwardly extending flange 3550 onan upper ring coupling member 352. --The upper coupling member or ring352 is secured to the base of the respective channel members 36 and 38by means of suitable plates and braces, not shown herein. By thisparticular construction, the ring support member 352 essentially servesas a swivel mounting disposed therein.

The swivel arrangement of the respective ring members 342 and 352 withthe cooperating flanges previously described, serve to swivelly mountthe mixing trough 10 with a material being discharged into the mixingtrough through the openings between the respective ring members. Theswivel is thus disposed under the outer or rear end of the conveyor 39so that the material which is carried thereby is discharged therefromthrough the swivel coupling 34ft and into the inner end of the mixingtrough 1%). A pair of links 360 and 362 connect to the trough 10 and arejournalled upon the shafts 356 and 353 to thereby secure the trough tothe coupling means 349.

If desired, suitable flexible wall guidesor chute members can beprovided adjacent the swivel member 352 and inassociation with theconveyor 3% so as to guide the material discharged from the conveyorinto the trough through the swivel joint.

It should be noted that the upstanding support brackets or links 360 and362 which are pivoted to the shafts 35s and 358 and secured thereto bymeans of conventional means such as cotter pins, not only serve tosupport and couple the mixing trough with the ring member 342 butadditionally serve to support the mixing trough whereby the same can bepivoted to any given number of vertical positions. In this manner, themixing trough 10 would be moved during transit of the vehicle from thegenerally horizontal position thereof shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to avertical position. In the vertical position, a carrying frame 400 asshown in FIGURE 2, projecting from the channel frame 66 at the rear ofthe apparatus would serve to support the mixing trough 10. By means ofthe apertures 402 and 404 in the frame 400, the trough is aligned withcorresponding apertures in the side walls thereof so that pins can bepassed through the aligned apertures to maintain the trough in avertical position adjacent the rear of the vehicle. Mere removal of suchpins from the aligned apertures releases the trough 10 so that the samecan be lowered to any desired generally horizontal position or rearwardoperating inclined position.

To this end, and as further shown in FIGURE 2, a winch 408 is carried atthe rear of the apparatus, and from this winch, a cable 410 passes overa pair of elevated pulleys 411 and 412 and terminates in an eye 414which is secured to a hook 416 on the outward end of the mixing trough10. Thus, operation of the winch -by means of a handle 4-18 moves thecable 410 inwardly or outwardly and thereby raises or lowers the mixingtrough 10 with respect to its pivotal mounting at the swival jointwhereby the same can be maintained at a given pre-set desired elevationor angle of inclination.

As further shown in FIGURES 2 and 18, the mixing trough 10 includes aplurality of spiral flights generally designated 450 disposed about thecentral longitudinally extending shaft 452. In addition to the spiralflights 450, a plurality of mixing blades 454 are carried on the shaft452, as shown in FIGURE 19.

These mixing blades serve to pick the material up from the periphery ofthe mixing trough and essentially drop the same to thereby effect adesired tumbling action for aiding in mixing. The shaft 452 along withits spiral flights 450 and mixing blades 454, provide an agitator andconveyor which properly mixes the material dispensed into the mixingtrough and conveys the same rearwardly during the mixing operation. Itis to be noted from FIGURE 2 that the water line 316 leads into themixing trough 10 at the base thereof i.e., at the end thereof nearestthe vehicle. The water is thus supplied to the ingredients as they enterthe mixing trough, whereby the water can be mixed with the dryingredients at the base of such trough and as such material movesoutwardly therefrom.

The shaft :52 is journalled in respective bearings at opposite ends 334and 338 of the trough 10 which bearings are carried in the hydraulicmotor 302 and in the wall 333 of the mixing trough 10. The hydraulicmotor 302 is fed by lines 304 and 306 which lead from the hydraulic pump300 driven by the primary drive shaft 14 as previously described inconnection with FIGURE 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, it will be noted that a level indicatingmeans 500 is shown as being pivotally secured to a side wall of thetrough 10. This level indicating means 500 includes a plate member 502which is pivoted about a pivot shaft or pin 504 to the side wall 322 ofthe trough 10. The plate member 502 is provided with a slot 506 thereinfor receiving a locking bolt 508 therethrough. Moreover, the plate 502carries thereon a level gauge 510 of the bubble indicator type. Theplate 502 has a scale 51 at the outer end thereof opposite the pivotalattachment 504. The scale 514 can be aligned with an index mark 516 onthe side of the trough 10. In this manner, the plate 502 can be pre-setin position by respective loosening and tightening of the bolt 508 to agiven position. The winch 403 would then be operated to either let outor bring in the cable 410 until the level indicating means 500maintained the bubble in the level indicator 510 in its centeredposition. At this time, the

pre-set angle of inclination for the mixing trough will have beenobtained, and the winch operation would be stopped to maintain themixing trough10 at the pre-set inclination. This pre-setting of theelevation of the mixing trough is correlated to the preset volume ofwater, sand and coarse aggregate supply and also to the pre-set quantityof cement so that a given ingredient mixture is mixed with thepredetermined action to obtain an ultimate concrete mixture havingpredetermined characteristics of both ingredient proportion and mixingquality.

Although not essential to the basic operation of the present apparatus,it is desirable to indicate to the operator of the apparatus when thesupply of cement in the tank 8 has been exhausted. To this end, anindicator means is provided, such as that shown in FIGURE 13, andgenerally designated 600. As should be understood, the cement from the'bin 8 discharges through the outlet 60 of the discharge compartment 68,in a substantially constant fiow. Thus, in order to allow the indicatormeans 600 to indicate this constant flow, a feeler finger means 602 ispivotally mounted by a pivot pin 604 adjacent the outlet of thedischarge compartment. The feeler finger means includes a bar 6%projecting from the finger 602. With a continuous flow of cement throughthe outlet 60, the feeler finger means 602 assumes its full line ordownward position shown in FIGURE 13. However, the finger is normallybiased upwardly by a tension spring 608 atfixed on the wall of thedischarge compartment 68. The spring 6% tends to urge the feeler fingermeans 602 to its upper or dotted line position, but the finger resistssuch upward bias as long as the cement is flowing constantly, since theforce of the flowing cement overcomes the biasing elfect of the spring608.

It should be noted, however, that when the supply of cement from thetank 8 decreases sufliciently so that a constant flow no longer occurs,then the feeler finger means 602 will move to its upper or dotted lineposition, and the finger bar 606 thereby comes into contact with amicro-switch 610. When the finger contacts the microswitch 610, acircuit is closed and a light 612 is activated so that the operator isrnade aware of the fact that there has been a termination of flow fromthe tank 8. The feeler finger means 602 would then be disposed in thepath of the outer ends of the vanes 74 so that such vanes would move thefeeler finger 602 back and forth thereby causing alternate engagement ofthe micro-switch 610 by the bar 606. Such alternate engagement wouldresult in a flashing of the light 612 to thereby indicate that thesupply of cement has been exhausted. If desired, an adjustment means canalso be provided at the fixed end of the spring 608 to adjust thetension thereof for desired operation.

It shou'd be apparent from the preceding description that there is nonecessity for cleaning the respective ingredients storage tanks.However, it is desirable to clean the mixing trough at the end of anygiven operation, and to this end, a wash-out hose connects through avalve with a line leading from the clean water or non-chemical additivewater carried on the apparatus.

Another further addition to the present apparatus contemplates theaddition of an additive bin which would dispense additives into themixture in controlled relation, much as in the manner that the cement isdispensed, but on a smaller scale. Such an arrangement would eliminatethe need for using different watering tanks and the plating of theinterior of one given tank so as to prevent undesired reaction orrusting thereof in view of the additive which is being used. Theadditional metering bin could handle either liquid or dry material,depending on the particular requirements for a given operation. Itshould also be here noted that the air supply referred to above inconnection with the description of the aerating mechanism is preferablyoperated from the reserve air supply generated by the truck air brakesystem while the truck is standing stationary during the concrete com-13 pounding and mixing operation. Moreover, additional air vibratorsattached to the underside or slope walls of the tank 6 can also be usedto loosen the material therein, if desired. Such air vibrators wouldsimilarly be operated from the air brake system of the vehicle, butunder a manual control.

Attention is now directed to another embodiment of the present inventionwhich embodiment is illustrated in FIG- URES through 22. This secondembodiment differs from the preferred embodiment previously describedinsofar as certain delivery and discharge mechanisms and further in thetype of discharge and'mixing of the cement ingredients into a mixingarea. More particularly, it will be seen that numeral 1%) designatesgenerally a suitable form of apparatus consisting of a tank truck forcarrying the components from which a concrete mixture is to be formed,the same including the usual Wheel chassis indicated generally by thereference numeral 12 and having a tank structure 14 mounted thereon.Although the tank 14- is shown as being of cylindrical configuration, itis obvious that it may be formed and constructed in other suitableshapes as desired.

As will be noted from FIGURE 21, the rearward portion of the tank body14 is provided with a transverse partition 16 which extends from the topof the tank downwardly and rearwardly thereof to thus define at therearmost portion of the tank a chamber 18 which extends across theentire width of the tank and between the partition 16 and the rear endwall 29 to thus provide a cement compartment in which dry cement isstored. A filling opening 22. is provided for filling and obtainingaccess to the cement compartment 18, which is provided with an upwardlymovable closure member 24 in the form of a plate and which is secured asby a conventional fastener 26'.

Ext-ending forwardly from the partition 16 and toward the dished frontend wall 28 of the tank is a longitudinally extending verticallypositioned medial dividing wall or bulk head or partition 30, whichdivides the remaining or forward portion of the tank into two separatecompartments 32 and 34 which lie on opposite sides of the partition 30as more clearly shown in FIGURE 20. One of these compartments 32 mayconstitute a separate storage chamber for sand, while the othercompartment 34, may constitute a separate storage chamber for gravel orother coarse aggregate. Each of these compartments extends from the topto the bottom of the tank and from the front wall 28 rearwardly to thepartition 16.

Referring again to FIGURE '21, it will be observed that the cementchamber 18 is provided with downwardly converging bottom or side walls36 whose medially depressed portion provides a trough-like bottom whichis disposed at the bottom of the tank and which thus defines the mixingchamber 33', the latter lying between the partition 16 and the rear endWall 20 as well as below the bottom wall 36 of the cement chamber. In amanner to be subse quently set forth, each of the sand, gravel or othercoarse agg egate and cement components of the ultimate concrete mix, aredelivered in measured quantities into the mixing chamber 38 where, ifdesired, water is introduced therein to make a wet mix, and thereafterthe mixture, whether wet or dry, is discharged from the bottom of thechamber 38 through a delivery conduit 4-0. As shown best in FIGURE 20,there is coupled in any suitable manner to the lower end of the deliveryconduit the upwardly projecting inlet sleeve 42 of a horizontallyextending cement mix delivery conveyor casing 4- One end of thisconveyor casing is supported by a coupling means 46 on the dischargeconduit 44), while the other end is maintained in vertically adjustedposition by a suspension member which may consist of an adjustable chain43. Ohviously, by adjusting this chain, as will be apparent fromconsideration of FIGURE 21, the delivery conveyor casing may be disposedin various inclinations and may be horizontally swung to a desiredposition. Suitably connected 1% to the end of the conveyor casing whichis remote from the coupling 46, is a hose Si) or other discharge meansby which the cement mix, either wet or dry, is delivered under pressureto the discharge nozzle (not shown) which may be of any desiredcharacter to thereby deliver the cement mix to a desired location.

In order to effect a forceful feeding of the cement mix, the conveyorcasing 44 is provided with an auger type conveyor screw 52 which issuitably journalled in the detachable end plates 54 and 56 of the casingand which screw has, as shown in FIGURE 21, a shaft 58 extendingtherefrom to receive a driving gear or sprocket 60 in order thatrotation may be imparted to the conveyor screw as by a sprocket chain 62driven from any suitable source of power.

it will be now understood that by imparting rotation to the conveyorauger screw, the mix, whether it be wet or dry, received from the mixingchamber 38 is forceably delivered under pressure to the conveyor casing44 and the delivery hose 50' to its desired destination. It is to benoted that water may be added to the measured mix dry ingredient of theconcrete mix by any suitable means either in the mixing chamber 38 orduring the passage of the dry mix therefrom through the conduit 49, oreven during passage of the dry mix through the conveyor hous ing 44, orfinally by applying the water directly to the dry mix by means of anappropriate type of mixing nozzle c-umferentially spaced pockets orrecesses at the end of the hose 5%.

It is to be emphasized at this point, however, that the connection ofthe delivery conveyor casing 44 with the mix delivery conduit 40 is suchas to effect both a horizontal swinging movement and a swiveling ortilting movement in order to enable the casing and the hose attachedthereto to be disposed conveniently in a large variety of differentpositions.

In order to control the quantity and rateof delivery of the cement fromthe cement chamber 18 into the mixing chamber 38, there is provided ameasuring or metering valve assembly controlling communication throughthe partition or bottom walls 36 of the cement chamber 18. This controlmeans, as will be best apparent from a consideration of FIGURE 21,consists of discharge openings or ports 66 which are controlled by ametering valve assembly 68. The latter may conveniently consist of aplurality of metering drums 7th of any suitable construction and carriedby a valve shaft 72 to which they are rigidly secured, the latter beingjournalled in suitable bearings as at 74 in partition 16 and at 76 inthe end wall 20". The

eriphery of each drum is provided with a plurality of cir- Thearrangement is such that the valve body seals off the port 66 andprevents passage of the dry cement from the cement chamber 18therethrough until the valves are rotated, at which time successiverecesses or valve pockets 80 each deliver a measured charge of thecement powder through the ports and into the mixing chamber 38therebeneath.

The end of the shaft 72' extends through the end wall 20 and is providedwith an automatic actuator means including a ratchet wheel 82 thereon,as shown particularly in FIGURE 21. Timed and controlled movement isimparted to the ratchet wheel thus effecting operation of the controlvalve 68' as set forth hereinafter.

A manually operated control means is provided for effectingcommunication of the interior of the mixing chamber 38 with the deliveryconduit 45); For this purpose, the upper end of the conduit 40 isprovided with a delivery port 8 4 which is controlled by a valve 86'.This valve has an actuating stem 88 and the valve and the stem aredisposed entirely within the mixing chamber 38 and are vertically liftedand lowered to thereby selectively uncover or close the delivery port84. In order to effect controlled operation of the delivery valve, asuitable mechanism such as the actuating mechanism to be now describedis provided.

It will be observed that a manually operated delivery valve lever 90' ismounted upon the end wall of the tank 14' and cooperates with a retainerbracket or hook 92' as shown in FIGURE 20, to thereby retain the valvein the open position shown in FIGURE 21. The lever has one end turnedperpendicularly to extend through the end wall 20' and a bearing 94disposed therein along the central axis of the tank. Thisperpendicularly turned end provides a shaft 96 extending into theinterior of the tank. The shaft 96' has a crank arm 98' which crank arm,in turn, is pivoted to a link 100' extending through a restrictedopening 102' in the bottom wall 36 of the cement chamber 18'. The latterhas its other extremity pivoted at 106' to a bracket 108' disposed uponthe interior of the tank and within the mixing chamber and intermediateits ends, the lever is pivoted at 112, as shown in FIGURE 21, to thebifurcated upper end of the valve stem 83. It will thus be observed thatthe weight of the lever 90', the link 104i and the lever 104 togetherwith the weight of the valve and valve stem serve to retain the valveclosed upon its seat except when the valve is manually lifted therefromand retained in this position by engagement of the lever 90' with theretaining bracket 92.

In some instances, the valve 86' and valve stem 88' can be used not onlyto control the flow of the mix from the mixing chamber to the deliveryconduit 40 but may also be employed to supply water to the mix. For thispurpose, there may be provided any suitable source of water such as theconnection 114 from a water supply conduit with the hollow stem 88 ofthe valve, while the lower end of the valve may be provided with anozzle 116' which projects downwardly below the valve and dischargeswater into the delivery conduit 40. By this means, water may beconveniently supplied to the measured dry mix to form a wet concrete mixas the dry mix passes from the mixing chamber into the mixture deliverycasing 44'. In addition, when the valve is closed upon the seat 84 thewater may be supplied in order to cleanse the conduit 40', the conveyorcasing 44 and the conveyor screw 42 therein and the hose 50.

Means are also provided for automatically and positively and at aprecise controlled and measured. rate, delivering sand and gravel fromtheir individual segregated storage compartments in the tank into themixing chamber for mixing therein with the cement, and if desired, withwater. For this purpose, as will now be best apparent, from theconsideration of FIGURE 21, there are provided in the bottom portion ofthe compartments 32 and 34' and preferably closely adjacent to thedivider wall 30' therebetween a pair of auger screw conveyors eachdesignated generally 12%. These conveyors are preferably of identicalconstruction and as shown in FIGURE 21, may have their oppositeextremities mounted and suitably supported by brackets 122 with abearing 124' disposed at the forward wall 28' of the tank and in abearing assembly 126 disposed in the partition 16' adjacent the bottomof the same. The conveyors are each provided with an axial extendingshaft 128' which extends through the rear wall 20 of the tank, isjournalled in a bearing bracket 130', and is connected to an operatingmeans to be subsequently described.

Referring now again to FIGURES 20 and 21, it will be observed that thecentral dividing wall 30 which separates the sand and gravel chambers 32and 34' from each other, although having its bottom, front and rearedges continuously united to the bottom of the tank in the front endwall 28' and the partition 16 respectively, has its 'upper edge spaceddownwardly from the top of the tank.

.A pair of longitudinally spaced filling openings 132' and 134' areprovided in the top wall of the tank, these being controlled by manuallyoperated closure plates 136' having control handles 138 hereon.Extending downwardly from these filling openings are laterally andoppositely inclined chutes 140 and 14-2. The lower ends of these chutesdischarge into the compartments 32 and 34' respectively, in order thatsand and gravel may be supplied to these compartments.

Power operating means are provided for effecting control in variablespeed and capacity operation of the means for delivering cement, sandand gravel to the mixing chamber. This power operating means mayconveniently consist of any suitable source of power, such as the powerplant of the vehicle or of an auxiliary or standby engine providedspecifically for this purpose. In any event, a source of power isconnected to the shaft which may be termed the power input shaft of theapparatus and which is best shown in FIGURE 20. From the input shaft,power is conveyed by means of a sprocket chain 152' to a sprocket gear154 on one of the conveyor auger shafts 128. From the latter, a furthersprocket 158 and a sprocket chain 1% convey power to the sprocket gear162 on the other of the auger conveyor shafts 128'. Thus, power iscontinuously available through each of the auger shafts by means ofwhich sand, and gravel are delivered from the compartments 32 and 34into the mixing chamber 38'. Any suitable means, not shown, may 'beprovided for varying the speed ratio of the two conveyors 126' withrespect to each other, it being understood that the combined speeds ofthe two conveyors will be controlled by proper control of the powerinput shaft 150'.

From the sprocket gear 162 of the last driven conveyor shaft 128', poweris also supplied to the ratchet wheel 82' of the automatic actuatingmeans for the control valve 68. This power supply is provided by meansof a lever 17% which is disposed on the exterior of the tank and has oneextremity pivoted as at 172 to the end wall 26' thereof. The otherextremity of this lever is provided with an elongated longitudinallyextending slot 174' in which lies a bolt 176 secured in a selected oneof a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded apertures 178'carried by the sprocket wheel 162. These apertures are at differentdistances from the axes of rotation of the shaft 128' and of thesprocket gear 162., so that they will impart different amplitudes ofoperation to the lever The latter, in turn, has at a mid-portion thereofa pair of dogs 180 and 182 pivoted to the lever as at 184 and 186, thedogs having spring means such as leaf springs 138 and 190' foryieldingly urging the dogs into engagement with the ratchet Wheel 82'.The arrangement, as shown in FIG- URE 22, is such that as an oscillatingmotion is imparted to the lever 17% about its pivot 172', the dogs 1%and 182 will in alternation impart a step-by-step rotation of theratchet wheel 82and thus to the measuring valve assembly 68 connectedtherewith. It will be thus observed that the operation of the measuringvalve of the cement is positively interconnected with means formeasuring the quantity of sand and gravel delivered to the mixingchamber and that through the connection of the sprocket wheel 162 to thelever 170', relative adjustment of the quantity of cement delivered intothe mixing cham. ber with respect to the quantity of sand and gravel maybe accordingly appropriately varied.

It is within the preview of this invention to also mount upon thechassis 12, means for supplying the necessary or desired water to mixwith the dry concrete mix and also to supply air under pressure to theinterior of the tank, when desired, in order to facilitate flow of thematerials therein into the mixing chamber and in order to facilitate theflow of the mixed materials from the mixing chamber into the deliveryconduit therefrom. For this purpose the interior of the tank 14 will bemade air-tight. It will be observed that free communication is providedfor the air and thus for providing equal air pressure to each of thechambers 32, 34 and 18.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it should be apparentthat the objects set forth at the outset of this specification have beensuccessfully achieved. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A concrete mixing truck comprising a mobile frame having a first anda second tank thereon, partition means in said first tank for dividingthe same into separate compartments for storing concrete ingredients,first operable means for feeding ingredients from each of saidcompartments, including means for adjusting the ratio of the ingredientsfed from each compartment, second operable means for feeding aningredient from said second tank, mixing means including an elongatedmixing trough having a mixing element therein, delivery means disposedto receive the ingredients fed from said compartments and second tankand effect their discharge into the mixing means, and means forsimultaneously controlling the rate of operation of said first andsecond feed means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said delivery means includes anendless conveyor disposed in the bottom portion of said first tank inunderlying relation to said partition means for receiving ingredientsfrom each of said separate compartments therein, said conveyor extendingrearwardly toward said mixing means, an outlet in each of saidcompartments disposed in overlying juxtaposition to said endlessconveyor, 21 pair of gates having a gear rack on respective facesthereof, said gates being mounted on said first tank for reciprocablevertical movement over respective ones of said outlets, control meanscomprising control wheel means connected to said gates by means of apair of shafts, and a gear secured to each one of said shafts and beingengageable with respective ones of said gear racks for individuallyadjustably controlling the height of said gates whereby the flow ofingredients from said one tank to said mixing means is selectivelycontrolled, a compartmented metering drum cooperating with said secondtank for discharging the ingredients therein onto said endless conveyor,said drive means comprising a drive shaft and a clutch means operablyconnected therewith, first coupling means drivingly connecting saiddrive shaft and said conveyor through said clutch, second coupling meansdrivingly connecting said first coupling means with said compartmentedmetering drum through said clutch means, and thirdcoupling meansdrivingly connecting said mixing means directly with said drive shaft,whereby disengagement of said clutch means stops said conveyor and saidcompartmented metering drum without stopping said mixing means,operating means for engaging and disengaging said clutch means, saidoperating means for said clutch and said control wheel means beingdisposed in adjacent position on the side of said truck whereby the samecan be controlled by a single operator.

3. The combination -of claim 1 wherein said mixing means comprises amixing trough longitudinally aligned with said first and second tanksand extending rearwardly thereof, said trough having a flexible bottomwall, said trough being pivotally secured to said mobile frame formovement in a horizontal and vertical plane relative to said first andsecond tanks, shaft means extending longitudinally of said troughsupporting a plurality of spaced apart mixing blades and said shaftmeans also supporting screw conveyor flights thereon, and means fordriving said shaft means.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said flexible bottom wallextends arcuately over more than one-half the periphery of said screwconveyor flights.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said delivery means comprises anendless conveyor disposed in said first tank below said partition meansfor receiving ingredients from each of said separate compartmentstherein, said conveyor extending rearwardly toward said mixing means,said second feeding means including metering means disposed in saidsecond tank for discharging predetermined quantities of the ingredienttherein onto said conveyor for delivery to said mixing means, and'saidcontrolling means comprising drive means for simultaneously operatingsaid conveyor, said metering means and said mixing means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said mixing means comprises amixing trough longitudinally aligned with said first and second tanksand extending rearwardly thereof, said trough having a flexible bottomwall, said trough being pivotally secured to said mobile frame formovement in a horizontal and vertical plane, shaft means extendinglongitudinally of said trough for supporting a plurality of spaced apartmixing blades and screw conveyor flights thereon, means for driving saidshaft means, said flexible bottom wall extending arcuately over morethan one-half the periphery of said screw conveyor flights.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said partition means comprises alower fixed member and an upper pivotal plate member, said upper pivotalplate member having a securing plate at each end thereof for attachmentto said first tank at selective positions along the end walls thereof.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said lower fixed member includes alongitudinally extending shaft secured along the top edge thereof, saidupper pivotal plate member including a forked portion along the loweredge thereof, said forked portion being engageable with said shaft forpivotal movement of said upper plate member about said lower fixedmember.

9. A concrete mixing truck comprising a mobile frame having a pluralityof tanks thereon for storing concrete ingredients, a mixing troughhaving a driven mixer therein, delivery means associated with each ofsaid tanks for delivering the ingredients therein to said mixing trough,said maving trough being disposed in longitudinal rearwardly extendingalignment with said tanks and being pivotally mounted on said truck formovement in a horizontal and vertical plane relative to said tanks,drive means for simultaneously driving said delivery means and saidmixer, and metering means associated with one of said tanks forindicating the total discharge of its ingredients into said mixingtrough.

10. The combination of claim 9'wherein said delivery means comprises anendless belt conveyor disposed in one of said tanks centrally thereofand a compartmented metering drum in the other of said tanks, feedermeans disposed within and transversely of said other tank for directingthe ingredient therein toward said compartmented metering drum, saiddrive means operably connecting said conveyor, said compartmentedmetering drum and said feeder means for simultaneous selectiveoperation.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said drive means comprises adrive shaft and a clutch means operably connected therewith, firstcoupling means drivingly connecting said drive shaft and said conveyorthrough said clutch means, second coupling means drivingly connectingsaid first coupling means with said compartmented metering drum and saidfeeder through said clutch means, and third coupling means drivinglyconnecting said mixer directly with said drive shaft, whereby disengagement of said clutch means stops drive of said conveyor, saidcompartmented metering drum and said feeder without stopping drive ofsaid mixer.

12. The combination of claim 9 further including a control assembly forselectively controlling the rate of flow from one of said tanks to saidmixing trough, said control assembly comprising outlet means in said onetank in overlying juxtaposition to said delivery means, gate means, gearrack means on said gate means, said gate means being mounted on said onetank for reciprocable vertical movement over said outlet means, controlmeans comprising control wheel means, shaft means connecting saidcontrol wheel means to said gate means, and gear means secured to saidshaft means and engageable with said gear rack means for adjustablecontrolling the height of said gate means whereby the flow ofingredients from saido'ne tank to said mixing trough is selectivelycontrolled.

\13. Apparatus for storing and mixing ingredients from which a concretemixture is formed, said apparatus comprising a frame, a first tanksupported on said frame, partition means in said first tank dividing thesame into two longitudinally extending sections for separately storingingredients of concrete, a second tank for storing another ingredient ofconcrete, a mixing trough disposed rearwardly of said first and secondtanks, said mixing trough being pivotally secured to said frame forpivotal movement in a vertical and horizontal plane, operating meanssecured to said frame and operably engaging said mixing trough formoving the same to any desired position, delivery means extendinglongitudinally of and disposed in the bottom portion of said first tankin contacting relation to each of said sections, adjustable gate meansdisposed at the rear of each of said sections in overlying relation tosaid delivery means, metering means disposed in the bottom portion ofsaid second tank for discharging predetermined metered quantities ofsaid ingredient therein onto said delivery means, said delivery meansterminating in overlying relation to said mixing trough for dischargingsaid ingredients thereon into said mixing trough, said metering meansoverlying said delivery means, and operating means for simultaneouslycontrolling said delivery means and said metering means at selectivelypredetermined proportional rates of speed.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said operating means includes adrive shaft and a clutch means operably connected therewith, firstcoupling means drivingly connecting said drive shaft and said deliverymeans through said clutch means, second coupling means drivinglyconnecting said first coupling means with said metering means throughsaid clutch means, third coupling means drivingly connecting said mixingtrough directly with said drive shaft, water supply means, water pumpmeans connected to said water supply means and being drivingly connectedwith said drive shaft, and valve means disposed between said water pumpmeans and said mixing trough for regulating the fiow of water from saidpump means to said mixing trough.

15. The combination of claim 14 further including a hydraulic motormeans for operating said mixing trough, said motor means being mountedon said trough, said third coupling means comprising a hydraulic pump,and conduit means drivingly connecting said hydraulic pump to saidhydraulic motor means.

16. The combination of claim 13 wherein said operating means for movingsaid mixing trough comprises a Winch secured to said frame and a cableextending from said winch to said mixing trough.

17. Apparatus for storing, transporting and mixing ingredients fromwhich a concrete mix is to be formed, said apparatus comprising awheeled chassis, a first tank means mounted on said wheeled chassis,partition means in said first tank means for dividing the same into aplurality of compartmental sections for receiving separate ingredientsof said concrete mix, a second tank means for receiving anotheringredient of said concrete mix, a mixing trough pivotally secured tosaid chassis, said trough extending rearwardly of said first and secondtank means, delivery means in said first tank means for directing acontrolled fiow of the ingredients therein to said mixing trough,metering means in said second tank means for discharging said ingredienttherein onto said delivery means, feeder means disposed in said secondtank means for directing the ingredient therein toward said meteringmeans, aerating means cooperating with said second tank means foraerating the ingredient therein and preventing agglomeration thereof,and drive means for synchronous- 1y driving said delivery means, saidmetering means, said feeder means, said aerating means and said mixingtrough.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further including at least one water tankmounted on said chassis, conduit means for directing water from saidwater tank to said mixing trough, and means for metering the flow ofwater through said conduit means.

19, The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said delivery means comprises anendless belt conveyor extending through said first tank means centrallybelow said partition means and rearwardly toward said mixing trough,said conveyor comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced apart supportmeans, a belt trained between said support means, a belt tensioningassembly supporting one of said support means, and a driven conveyorshaft connected to the other of said rollers.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said metering means comprises anoutlet chamber, a compartmented metering drum disposed in said outletchamber, said outlet chamber being disposed in overlying relation tosaid belt conveyor, a first shaft extending through said chambertransversely thereof, said compartmented metering drum being mounted onsaid first shaft, said feeder means comprising a second shaft extendingtransversely through said second tank means, a pair of opposed spiralflights carried on said second shaft, said first shaft, said secondshaft and said driven conveyor shaft being connected by means of aplurality of chain and sprocket members for simultaneous and synchronousoperation thereof, and clutch means for disengaging the connectionbetween said first shaft and said second shaft.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further including cam means on said firstshaft for selectively sequentially operating said aerating means.

22. Apparatus for storing and mixing ingredients from which a concretemix is to be formed, said apparatus comprising a frame, first tank meansmounted on said frame, said first tank means having a pair ofcompartmental sections therein for receiving separate ingredients of theconcrete mix, second tank means mounted on said frame rearwardly of saidfirst tank means, conveyor means disposed in said first tank meansbetween said sections and extending rearwardly therefrom below saidsecond tank means, selectively adjustable gate means disposed on therear end of each compartmental section in overlying relation to saidconveyor means for controlling the rate of flow of ingredients from saidcompartmental sections, metering means disposed in said second tankmeans for discharging a predetermined amount of said ingreclient thereinonto said conveyor means, a mixing trough pivotally secured to saidframe rearwardly of and in longitudinal alignment with said conveyormeans, drive means mounted on said chassis for simultaneouslysynchronously controlling said conveyor means, said metering means andsaid mixing trough, and clutch means operatively connected to said drivemeans for disengaging the same thereby stopping said conveyor means andsaid metering means while maintaining operation of said mixing trough.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said adjustable gate meanscomprise a pair of slidably mounted gates for obstructing respectiveopenings in said compartmental sections, each of said gates beingprovided with a gear rack on one face thereof, gear means engaging eachof said gear racks for selectively raising and lowering said gates oversaid openings thereby controlling the rate of flow on said conveyormeans, and gear control means connected to each of said gear means forindividually operating said gates.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said gear control means comprise ashaft extending from each of said gears to respective control wheels onthe side of said first tank means, and a metering gauge associated witheach of said control wheels for visually indicating respectivesettingsof said gates.

25. Apparatus for storing and mixing ingredients from which a concretemix is to be formed, said apparatus comprising a support frame, aplurality of ingredient storing devices mounted on said frame, a mixingtrough, delivery means for simultaneously delivering said ingredients tosaid mixing trough at a controlled rate of flow, said mixing troughcomprising a longitudinally extending framepivotally mounted relative tosaid support frame and including rigid side members and a flexibleconnecting member extending therebetween, a longitudinally extendingdrive shaft secured to opposite ends of said frame, a plurality ofmixing blades secured to said shaft, spiral flights secured to saidshaft, and means for changing the inclination of said mixing troughthereby selectively controlling the degree of mixing of saidingredients.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further including hydraulic motor meansmounted on said mixing trough for operating said drive shaft.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further including a level indicatorsecured to one of said side members for selecting a predetermined degreeof inclination for said mixing trough, said level indicator comprising apivotally mounted plate, a bubble level secured to said plate, and agauge cooperating with said plate for setting said plate at apredetermined inclination angle position.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 including means for simultaneouslyintroducing water into said mixing trough while said ingredients aredischarged into said mixing trough from said delivery means.

29. Apparatus for storing and mixing ingredients from which a concretemixture is formed, said apparatus comprising a first tank means having apartition therein for dividing said first tank means into a pair ofsections for receiving concrete ingredients therein, said partitionbeing pivotally mounted for selectively changing the area of each ofsaid sections, second tank means for receiving another concreteingredient therein, mixing means for receiving ingredients from saidfirst and second tank means and mixing the same into a predeterminedquantity of concrete, said mixing means extending rearwardly of saidfirst and second tank means and being pivotally mounted with respectthereto for movement in a horizontal and vertical plane, and means fordelivering said ingredients from said first and second tank means tosaid mixing means.

3%. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said mixing means comprises anenldless belt conveyor disposed in of opposite side walls and a flexiblebottom wall secured along the edges thereof to said side walls, and apair of end walls secured to respective ends of said side walls.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said trough further includes adrive shaft extending longitudinally within said trough, a plurality ofblades secured to said shaft and being driven thereby, said bladescomprising a plurality of mixing blades, a plurality of spiral flightsand a plurality of lifting blades, and hydraulic motor means foroperating said drive shaft.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said delivery means comprises anendless belt conveyor disposed in said first tank means, said conveyorextending from the front of said tank means towards said mixing means, acompartmented metering drum, a drive shaft disposed within said secondtank means, said drum being secured to said shaft for rotation therewiththereby discharging metered quantities of the ingredient therein ontosaid endless belt conveyor.

33. Apparatus for storing, transporting and mixing ingredients fromwhich a concrete mixture is formed, said apparatus comprising a wheeledchassis, first tank means supported on said chassis, partition means insaid first tank means dividing the same into two longitudinallyextending sections for separately storing ingredients of concrete,second tank means supported on said chassis for storing anotheringredient of concrete, mixing means extending rearwardly from saidfirst and second tank means, said mixing means being pivotally securedto said chassis at the rear thereof for pivotal movement in a verticaland horizontal plane, first delivery means extending longitudinally ofand disposed in the bottom portion of said first tank means, adjustablegate means disposed at the ear of each of said sections in overlyingrelation to said first delivery means, second delivery means associated22 with said second tank means for discharging metered quantities ofsaid ingredient therein onto said first delivery means, said firstdelivery means overlying said mixing means for discharging all of saidingredients into said mixing means, operating means for simultaneouslycon trolling said first delivery means, said second delivery means, andsaid mixing means at selectively predetermined proportional rates ofspeed, feeder means disposed in said second tank means for feeding saidingredient therein toward said second delivery means, and aerating meansfor maintaining said ingredient in said second tank means innon-agglomerated condition.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said partition includes astationary bottom wall and a flexible upper plate member, said upperplate member being pivotally mounted on said bottom wall for movementbetween a first and second position.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said bottom wall includes alongitudinally extending shaft secured to the top edge thereof, saidupper plate member including a forked portion along the lower edgethereof, said forked portion being engageable with said shaft forpivotal movement of said plate member about said bottom wall.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said first delivery meanscomprises an endless belt conveyor, said conveyor being disposedcentrally below said bottom wall of said partition, said conveyorcomprising a pair of longitudinally spaced apart support rollers, a belttensioning assembly supporting one of said rollers, and a first shaftconnected to the other of said support rollers.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said second delivery meanscomprises an arcuately walled discharge compartment depending from saidsecond tank means, a compartmented metering drum rotatably mounted insaid compartment, a second shaft extending through said compartment,said drum being secured to said second shaft for rotation therewith,said drum comprising a core portion secured to said second shaft, aplurality of vanes extending radially from said core portion toward thewalls of said compartment defining a plurality of discharge areastherebetween, at least the outer portions of said vanes being flexible,and means drivingly connecting said first shaft with said second shaft.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said operating means comprises adrive shaft and a clutch operably connected therewith, said first shaftbeing drivingly connected to said drive shaft through said clutch, saidsecond shaft being drivingly connected to said first shaft through saidclutch, and a coupling means drivingly connecting said mixing meansdirectly with said drive shaft, whereby disengagement of said clutchstops said conveyor, said com-partmented metering drum and said feedermeans while maintaining operation of said mixing means.

39. A concrete mixing device including mixing trough comprisingoppositely spaced apart longitudinally extending side walls, end wallsfixed to respective ends of said side walls, said end walls extendingbelow said side Walls, an arcuate bottom member being secured alongopposite edges thereof to said side walls and at the ends thereof tosaid end walls, a drive shaft journalled in said end walls, motor meanssecured to one of said end Walls for rotating said drive shaft, aplurality of mixing blades secured to said shaft, spiral flights securedto said drive shaft, a support frame and means for pivoting said troughin a horizontal and vertical plane relative to said support frame.

40. The mixing trough defined in claim 39 wherein said bottom wallcomprises a flexible material and wherein said motor means ishydraulically driven.

41. The mixing trough defined in claim 40 wherein said trough isprovided with a level indicator secured to one of said side walls forselecting a predetermined angle of inclination for said trough, saidlevel indicator comprising a pivotally mounted plate, a bubble levelsecured -to said plate, and a gauge cooperating with said plate for 23setting said plate at a predetermined inclination angle position, I

42. In a concrete mixing apparatus, a supporting frame, a tank having alower longitudinally extending arcuate wall portion supportedhorizontally on said frame, an outlet in said arcuate wall portion, anarcnate discharge compartment in communication with said outlet, arotary metering discharge means in said discharge compartment, rotatablymounted spiral feed means in said tank, disposed along said arcuate wallportion and arranged on rotation to forcibly feed concrete ingredientslongitudinally toward said outlet, and means to feed air through saidarcuate wall at spaced intervals along said feed means to agitate andaerate said concrete ingredients.

43. The concrete mixing apparatus of claim 42, wherein said dischargingmeans comprises a rotatably mounted compartmented metering drum disposedin said discharge compartment, a transversely extending drive shaft,said drum secured to said drive shaft, a plurality of vanes extendingoutwardly from said drive shaft toward the Walls of said dischargecompartment whereby a plurality of recesses are formed for discharging ametered quantity of ingredients from said tank.

44. The concrete mixing apparatus of claim 43 wherein said means foraerating comprises at least one aperture in said tank, a mesh screendisposed in overlying relation to said aperture, an air supply, airvalve means secured to said tank, said air valve means including anoutlet in covering relation to said aperture, cam means secured to saiddrive shaft, a cam follower connected to said air valve means wherebyrotation of said drive shaft intermittently engages said cam andfollower thereby operating said air valve means.

45. The concrete mixing apparatus of claim 43, wherein said vanes are atleast partially flexible, wherein said tank further comprises indicatingmeans for visually indicating an empty condition in said tank, saidindicating means comprising a pivoted arm member secured to saiddischarge outlet and being intermittently engageable with said rotatingvanes, spring means biasing said arm memher into a closed position, anelectrical contact, a light signal connected to said electrical contact,said light signal being energized when said arm is in said closedposition and in engagement with said contact, whereby continuousdischarge of the ingredient from said tank biases said arm member intoan open position and out of engagement with said contact.

46. The concrete mixing apparatus of claim 43 wherein said feeding meanscomprises a transversely extending feeder shaft, a plurality of opposedspiral vanes supported on said shaft, said vanes being rotatable withsaid shaft for moving the ingredient in said tank toward said dischargecompartment, said feeder shaft extending outwardly from said tank, andmeans for drivingly connecting said drive shaft with said feeder shaftfor simultaneous rotation of said drive shaft and said feeder shaft.

47. The concrete mixing apparatus of claim 46 wherein said aeratingmeans comprises a plurality of outlets in the bottom of said tank,screen means covering said outlets for preventing passage of saidingredient therethrough, air valve means cooperating with said outletsfor supplying intermittent sequential air bursts into said tank, cammeans connected to said drive shaft for operating said aerating means,and clutch means connected to said drive shaft for disengaging saidfeeder shaft and said cam means while maintaining rotation of said driveshaft.

48. In a concrete mixing apparatus comprising a plurality of ingredientstoring and discharge tanks, a mixing trough disposed in longitudinalalignment with said tanks and extending rearwardly therefrom, saidmixing trough being pivotally mounted for horizontal and verticalmovement relative to said tanks, delivery means for moving saidingredients from said tanks to said mixing trough, the improvementcomprising, a drive shaft, a gearing assembly connecting said driveshaft to said delivery means,

and a clutch mechanism disposedbetween said drive shaft and said gearingassembly for disengaging said delivery means from said drive shaft.

49. The improvement of claim 48 further including a water pump, saidwater pump being drivingly connected to said drive shaft, a water sup lyconnected to said pump for dispensing predetermined metered amounts ofWater into said mixing trough, and means for manually closing said watersupply to said mixing trough while rotation of said drive shaft ismaintained.

50. The improvement of claim 49 further including a hydraulic pump,hydraulic motor means supported on said trough, and hydraulic pump beingconnected to said motor means for operating said mixing trough, andmeans provided for disengaging said clutch while simultaneousiymaintaining operation of said motor means and mixing trough.

51. An apparatus for storing, trans orting and mixing ingredients fromwhich a cement mix is to be formed, said device comprising a tank mean-smounted on a wheeled chassis, said tank means having a plurality ofcompartmental sections therein for receiving separate ingredients ofsaid cement mix, a mixing chamber disposed in said tank means adjoiningsaid compartmental sections, delivery means in each of saidcompartmental sections for simultaneously directing a controlled flow ofthe ingredient therein to said mixing chamber, conduit means inconnecting relation to said mixing chamber for discharging said cementmix therefrom, valve means disposed in said mixing chamber whereby saidcement mix is discharged in a controlled rate of flow from said mixingchamber into said discharge conduit means, and a water supply nozzleintegral with said valve means for simultaneously introducing water intosaid cement mix while the latter is discharged from said mixing chamberinto said discharge conduit means.

52. An apparatus for storing, transporting and mixing ingredients fromwhich a cement mix is to be formed, said device comprising a tank meansmounted on a Wheeled chassis, said tank means having a plurality ofcompartmental setcions therein for receiving separate ingredients ofsaid cement mix, a mixing chamber disposed in said tank means adjoiningsaid compartmental sections, delivery means in each of saidcompartmental sections for simultaneously directing a controlled flow ofthe ingredient therein to said mixing chamber, conduit means inconnecting relation to said mixing chamber for discharging said cementmix therefrom, valve means disposed in said mixing chamber whereby saidcementmix is discharged in a controlled rate of flow from said mixingchamber into said discharge conduit means, said delivery means in atleast one of said compartmental sections comprising at least onerotatably mounted drum having longitudinally extending peripheralrecesses on the surface thereof, drive means connected to said drum forrotating the same at a selective predetermined rate whereby a measuredcharge of the ingredient in said one compartmental section is dischargedinto said mixing chamber, said drive means comprising a ratchet Wheeldrivingly connected to said drum, lever means pivotally connected at oneend thereof to said tank means and having a slot in the other endthereof, means mounted on said lever for engagement with said ratchetWheel, gear means connected to the delivery means for one of said othercompartmental sections, said gear means having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures in varying spaced relation to theconnection of said gear means with said delivery means, and meansdisposed in a selected one of said apertures for engagement with theslot of said lever means whereby oscillating motion is imparted to saidlever thereby rotating said ratchet wheel and said drum.

53. A cement mixing truck comprising a mobile frame with a tank thereondivided into separate sand, gravel and cement compartments and aseparate mixing cham-

1. A CONCRETE MIXING TRUCK COMPRISING A MOBILE FRAME HAVING A FIRST ANDA SECOND TANK THEREON, PARTITION MEANS IN SAID FIRST TANK FOR DIVIDINGTHE SAME INTO SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS FOR STORING CONCRETE INGREDIENTS,FIRST OPERABLE MEANS FOR FEEDING INGREDIENTS FROM EACH OF SAIDCOMPARTMENTS, INCLUDING MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE RATIO OF THE INGREDIENTSFED FROM EACH COMPARTMENT, SECOND OPERABLE MEANS FOR FEEDING ANINGREDIENT FROM SAID SECOND TANK, MIXING MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATEDMIXING TROUGH HAVING A MIXING ELEMENT THEREIN, DELIVERY MEANS DISPOSEDTO RECEIVE THE INGREDIENTS FED FROM SAID COMPARTMENTS AND SECOND TANKAND EFFECT THEIR DISCHARGE INTO THE MIXING MEANS, AND MEANS FORSIMULTANEOUSLY CONTROLLING THE RATE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST ANDSECOND FEED MEANS.